Most TVs with several HDMI inputs work the same way: connect each source to a free input, note the input’s number, and select that number on the TV. Two exceptions matter. The port labeled ARC/eARC sends TV audio back to a soundbar or receiver, and inputs marked for 4K 120 Hz only deliver that refresh rate to a compatible source, with the right cable and settings. Port numbering, labels, and feature support differ by brand, model, and region, so the printed labels on your TV and its manual are the final reference.
What the numbered HDMI inputs are for
Each HDMI IN on a TV is a separate input that can stay connected to its own device. Typical sources include a cable or satellite box, a game console, a streaming device, a computer, and a UHD Blu-ray player. Because every source has its own input, you do not need to unplug one device to use another. You switch between them on the TV.
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Input numbers are usually printed next to the port and shown in the TV’s input list, often as HDMI 1, HDMI 2, and so on. Some models use other labels, so match the number on the back of the set with the number on the menu rather than assuming the order.
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Connect a source and select its input
The basic procedure is the same on Samsung and LG sets, and Samsung’s support guide and LG’s Easy TV Connect guide both describe it in these terms.
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- Pick a free HDMI IN on the TV and write down its label and number.
- Connect the device’s HDMI OUT to that HDMI IN with an HDMI cable.
- Power on the device and the TV.
- Open the TV’s Source or Input menu and select the HDMI number you used. Samsung’s menu is labeled Source; the exact name depends on the model.
- If the picture does not appear, confirm the source is actually outputting a signal, then select the input manually. Some TVs do not switch inputs automatically when a device starts.
Samsung’s guide is at https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003978/, and LG’s guide is at https://www.lg.com/us/support/connect-device-to-tv-guide.
Read the port labels before you plug in
Printed labels are the fastest way to tell which input does more than basic video. Samsung’s port glossary notes that a label can identify a feature such as ARC/eARC, so a label is worth reading even when the port looks like the others.
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| Port label | What it is used for | What to confirm before relying on it |
|---|---|---|
| Plain numbered HDMI IN | Any standard source: cable or satellite box, console, streaming device, computer, UHD Blu-ray player | The input number, and that the source’s output setting matches what the TV supports |
| ARC/eARC | Returns TV audio to a soundbar or receiver over one HDMI cable | The audio device has a matching ARC/eARC port, and the TV’s sound output is set to the external system |
| Marked for 4K 120 Hz (Sony’s guide describes this marking) | High refresh rate video from a compatible source | The source supports 4K 100/120 Hz, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is in use, and the input signal format is set as the TV directs |
Sony’s guide for its connecting terminal, which lists the labels and the 4K 120 Hz guidance, is at https://helpguide.sony.net/tv/lga1/v1/en-142/01_10.html. Other brands may use different markings or none at all, so check your own model.
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ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) let the TV send sound back to an external audio system through the same HDMI cable that carries the connection. TV audio from built-in apps or connected sources can return this way, so one cable can handle the audio path to the soundbar.
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- Connect the TV’s port labeled ARC/eARC to the ARC/eARC TV port on the soundbar or receiver.
- On the TV, set the sound output to the external audio system. If audio does not switch automatically, this setting is the usual cause.
- Play a test sound from a built-in app and confirm it comes from the soundbar.
HDMI Licensing Administrator describes eARC’s audio capability in its eARC feature page, at https://www.hdmi.org/spec21sub/enhancedaudioreturnchannel. The page lists support for audio formats up to 192 kHz and 24-bit, uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1, and 32-channel uncompressed audio. Those are format capabilities of the standard, so the formats you actually get depend on both the TV and the audio device. ARC and eARC are not interchangeable in every respect, so confirm that both devices support the version you need.
4K 120 Hz inputs and high refresh rate sources
A high refresh rate needs three things to line up: a source that outputs it, an input that accepts it, and a cable rated for it. Sony’s guide says to use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable with a compatible 4K 100/120 Hz source, to use inputs marked for 4K 120 Hz, and to configure the input’s HDMI signal format as the on-screen instructions direct. It also states that 4K 100 Hz support depends on country or region.
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- Confirm the source can output 4K at 120 Hz, and select that refresh rate in the device’s own display settings.
- Connect the source to the input the TV marks for 4K 120 Hz.
- Use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Set the input’s HDMI signal format or enhanced signal setting as the TV directs. On Samsung sets this may appear as Input Signal Plus or UHD HDMI Color, and the name and availability are model-specific. Samsung’s guide is linked in the connection section above.
If the 120 Hz option does not appear, work through the checks in the troubleshooting list below before assuming the TV cannot do it.
A version label does not guarantee every input has every feature
“HDMI 2.1” on a box tells you that a product supports some HDMI 2.1 features, not which ones. HDMI Licensing Administrator states that HDMI 2.1 features are optional and that manufacturers must state which features their products enable. A TV can therefore carry an HDMI 2.1 label while one input lacks a feature you need, such as 4K 120 Hz, variable refresh rate, or eARC. Check the model’s specification sheet and the port labels on the set itself. HDMI Licensing Administrator’s explanation is at https://www.hdmi.org/blog/detail/139.
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Choose a cable that matches the feature you need
Cables matter only when the source and the input both support the feature. HDMI Licensing Administrator lists up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth for the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable category, which it associates with bandwidth-dependent features. Its HDMI 2.1b specification page lists 8K60 and 4K120 among supported resolution and refresh combinations. Those are capabilities of the specification, not guarantees about any particular TV or source.
- Look for the official Ultra High Speed HDMI cable certification label on the package. HDMI Licensing Administrator describes these labels in its certification announcement, at https://www.hdmi.org/announce/detail/119.
- Use the certified cable for 4K 120 Hz or other high-bandwidth features, and a standard cable where the feature is not needed.
- A new cable will not add a feature that the TV input or the source lacks. Confirm the capability on both devices first.
The HDMI 2.1b specification is at https://www.hdmi.org/spec/hdmi2_1/index.aspx.
When you have more devices than HDMI inputs
If every input is in use, you have three practical options. First, assign the inputs by need: put the 4K 120 Hz source on the input marked for it, put the soundbar on ARC/eARC, and use the remaining inputs for lower-demand devices. Second, unplug a device you use rarely. Third, add an HDMI switch, which gives several sources a shared route into one TV input and lets you select between them at the switch.
An HDMI switch is only useful if it passes everything your setup needs. Before buying one, compare its documented resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and audio pass-through support against your weakest device and your TV input. This guide does not recommend a specific switch, and a switch cannot add a feature that the connected devices or the TV input lack.
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Troubleshooting checklist
- No picture on an input: confirm the source is powered and outputting a signal, reseat both ends of the cable, try another input, and check that the TV is set to the correct input number.
- TV does not switch to the new device: select the input manually from the Source or Input menu.
- Soundbar is silent when using built-in apps: confirm the cable is in the TV’s ARC/eARC port and the soundbar’s matching port, then set the TV sound output to the external audio system.
- 4K 120 Hz is not offered: confirm the source supports it and that it is set in the source’s display settings, that the input is one marked for 4K 120 Hz, that an Ultra High Speed cable is in use, and that the input signal format is set as the TV directs. Also check the region, since Sony’s guide says 4K 100 Hz support depends on country or region.
- A feature works on one input but not another: this is expected when the inputs differ. Compare the labels and the model’s specifications.
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